OMG, Jnesta, that was too funny. My opinion is that a fart in the face wouldn't be the equivalent, though, unless you could somehow increase their risk for cancer with it. If people want to smoke, fine. But they shouldn't smoke somewhere where they are leaving others with no choice but to suck in their fumes. I do think, though, that there should still be smoking sections most everywhere. After all, the poor saps are absolutely addicted, and the nice Government chooses to keep tobacco legal, so we shouldn't really blame people for being/getting hooked, should we?

Thanks Tanya, I can't remember where I first heard that, but it stuck. And I agree with you wholeheartedly. Except about the smoking sections. In my perfect world, people would only be allowed to smoke in places where it could only affect them, like in their cars with closed windows and their homes. Though they are addicted, I believe the choice to start is just that: a choice. And there are so many options today to help those who want to quit. And for those who can't quit, let them pollute their own air.

I just thought I'd add- I saw this sign in a hostel in New Zealand
"I understand that smoking is your pleasure
The by-product of your pleasure is cigarette smoke
it gets in my hair and clothes, and destroys my lungs.
I have my pleasure too -
I enjoy a bottle of Lion Red [local beer] or two
every now and then.
The by-product of my pleasure is urine.
How would you like it if I went into your room
and pissed all over your hair and clothes?"

I'm allergic to cigarette smoke - in Montreal I can't go out to a bar or restaurant because most of them don't have any non-smoking sections, I'll stay twenty minutes and then my eyes run copiously and I have trouble breathing - it's happened to me that I stopped breathing and physically couldn't intake a breath. It's scary.
So when I'm at home I don't go out.

Smoking is one of the least offensive habits to be enjoyed these days (short of vole-strangling), yet consistently attracts so much criticism.

All you mobile phone users will thank the smokers of the world on the day that you develop brain cancer. Our tobacco taxes will help you, you bunch of noisy gits, so stop whining about a little bit of smoke.

You seem to think that one bad habit justifes others. As for smoking being one of teh "least offensive habits," that also sounds like a rationalization from someone who does it. You lash out at other groups--Americans, drivers, cell phone users--because you feel attacked. A very simple way to stop feeling attacked is to stop your disgusting habit! And if you can't do that then don't take things so personally.

Your reference to cell phone users makes no sense either. If they get brain cancer that's their business. They are not giving it to anyone else. Your habit directly causes other people harm. It is now well documented that second hand smoke causes everything from cancer to allergies to asthma. Or are you employed by a tobacco company and in denial of these facts too?

I really don't care if you smoke. Just don't do it where I ahve to breathe the air, don't throw your butts on my Earth, and don't throw your ashes out your car window. What you do to your body is your business. What you do to mine is mine.